Button construction



Dec. 31, 1935. A. H. FEUERSTEIN- 2,026,380

BUTTON CONSTRUCTION Filed Oct. 6, 1934 INVENTOR ABRAHAM H. FEUERSTEINPatented Dec. 31, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE BUTTON cons'moo'rron'Abraham H. Feuerstein, New York N. Y. Application October 6, 1934,Serial No. 747,120 2 Claims. (c1. 24-9o v This invention relates to newand usefulimprovements in a'button construction.

The invention has for an object the construction of a button which ischaracterized by a head of non-resilient material and a stem with asolid shank arranged with resilient elements compressible into anopening in said head in such a manner that the shank may be forced intothe open ing for the permanent connection of-the stem and head.

The invention may better be understood, by first considering several oldconstructions and then understanding the structural differences andadvantages of this invention. 7 v i It is old to form a button having ahead and a stem with a solid shank which is forced into an opening inthe head. Such prior construetions' were arranged with non-compressibleele ments upon the shank, and 'the arrangement necessitated that thebutton head be of resilient material such as vulcanized fiber, leatherboard, or the like, so that there is a "give in the head when the shankof the stem is forced into position.- 'A button of this type isillustrated and describedin -U. S. Patent No.-l,318,235. The shortcomingof a button of thistype is the limitation, that the head, be ofresilient material." Consequently,it is impossible to construct a but-,ton in which, for example, the head is pearl v, or imitation pearl,since obviously these materials are not resilient materials, and theengagement of the shank into the opening would be impossible.

- According to this invention it is proposed to arrange elements uponthe solid shank of the stem of a button, which elements are in the formof thin ridges or similar constructions, adapted to be compressed intoan opening in anon-compressible button head, such as a button headconstructed of fresh water or ocean pearl or imitation pearl.

A still further object of this invention is to arrange the ridgesannularly and circumferentially, simulating threads, but in which thethreads have compressible sections.

Another one of the objects of this invention is to arrange the stem fromadjacent stem sections with the contacting faces concaved and formedwith -grooves in such a manner to permit compression of the shank whenthe stem is forced into an opening in the button head.

Still further, the invention proposes the construction of an article ofthe class described which is simple and durable and which can bemanufactured and sold at a reasonable cost.

For further comprehension of the invention,

and of the objects and advantages thereof, reference will be had to thefollowing description and accompanyingv drawing, and to the appendedclaims in which the various novel features of the invention are moreparticularly set forth.

In the accompanying drawing forming a ma terial part of this invention:-

1' Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a button constructed'according tothis invention.

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view of the button shown in Fig. 1: r

Fig. 3 is a side elevational view of the stem of the button, per se.Fig. 4 is a horizontal enlarged sectional view taken on the line 4-4 ofFig. 3.

Fig. 5 isa view similar to Fig. 4 but illustrating the shank of thestem, according to a modification of this invention.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary perspective detailed view of one of the stemsections of the stem shown in Fig. 5.. e i

Fig; 7 is a side elevational'view of a device with which the stem may beengaged in a button head, so that the full construction of the button amay be known.

Fig. 8 is'a bottom elevational view of the jaw portion of the deviceshown in Fig. 7 looking in the directionof the line of Fig. 7.

Fig. 9 is a horizontal sectional view taken on the line 9-9 of Fig. 7.

The button construction, according to this invention, comprises a headll of non-resilient, material, such as pearl or imitation pearl, orother materials, which is formed with a central opening II and which isassociated with a stem. I2. 35, v The stem I2 is formed with a shank I 3which engages into the opening H. The shank II is solid and is forcedinto the opening II and isformed; with a plurality of ridges it whichare slightly compressible to facilitate engagement of the shank into theopening, and for producing strainsor pressures to hold the stem inposition.

More particularly, the stem it of the button comprises a strip ofmaterial which is bent at the center with its ends adjacent, and, formedwith an opening I! at the bent end through which the button may beattached as desired. The adjacent ends are in intimate contact with eachother and the outer sides thereof are formed with the ridges ll.These-ridges ll simulate threads, except for the fact that they extendaround the sides of the shank sections and terminate before the adjacentedges thereof. This is clearly shown in Fig. 3. The diameter of theopening II should be slightlysmallerthan the 56.

outside diameter of the ridges H, but should be slightly larger than theroot diameter of the ridges. Consequently, the stem may be forced intothe opening, and the ridges will become bent against the wall of theopening and grip the wall for maintaining the stem in position.

In Figs. 5 and 6 another embodiment of the invention has been disclosedwherein additional provision is made to provide for the compressibilityof the shank of the stem. More particularly, the adjacent faces of thestem sections are formed with grooves, comprising transverse grooveportions i6 and lateral groove portions li These groove portions areconnected with each other. The arrangement is such that the shank isslightly compressible sidewise and front and rearwise, because of theinterior grooves l6- and li Therefore, in addition to thecompressibility of the ridges H, the shank may be forced into andmaintain its position in the opening in the button head with theresiliency produced by the interior grooves.

In Figs. 7-9 inclusive a mechanism is illustrated by which the stem andbutton head may be connected with each other. This mechanism comprises astationary frame 20 having a recessed portion 2| into which a buttonhead l0 may be engaged. This recessed portion 2i is immediately over astem 22 formed with a lateral recess 23 adapted to receive the buttonstem in such a manner that the bent portion thereof is engaged'in areceiving recess, and the shank portion of the button stem extendsdownwards. This shank portion is in alignment with the opening il in thebutton head. The stem 22 extends into a cylinder 24. The inner end ofthe stem 22 has a head 25 working in an opening in the cylinder. Aspring 26 is arranged in a cavity in the cylinder and acts between thehead 25 and the cylinder for normally urging the stem 22 inwards. A pairof pins 21 are mounted upon portions of the frame 20 and extend throughopenings in the head 24' of the cylinder and are engageable against thestem head 25. A small projection 28 from the cylinder head 22 is adaptedto engage the stem head 25 as hereinafter explained.

The cylinder head 24 connects with a shank 28 connected with a ring 29pivotally mounted intermediate the end of the lever 30. This lever ispivotally mounted at one end 3| on the frame 20. The other end of thelever 30 connects with a rod 32 which connects intermediate the ends ofa foot pedal 33. The'foot pedal 33 is pivotally mounted at one end 34.An expansion spring 35 normally urges the free ends of the foot pedal 33upwards.

The operation of engaging a stem on a button head consists in firstplacing the button head upon the receiving recess 2i, then engaging thebutton stem into the receiving recess 23 of the stem 22 as previouslyexplained. Then the free end of the foot pedal 33 is depressed by theoperator stepping thereon. Downward motion of the foot pedal 33 movesthe rod 32, the lever 30, the ring 23, and the shank 23 downwards.Downward motion of the shank moves the cylinder 25 downwards while thestem 22 maintains a stationary position because of expansion of thespring 25. Downward motion of the cylinder 25, therefore covers therecess 23 and so the button stem is tightly held in position. Furtherdownward motion of the cylinder 24 causes the projection 23 to engagethe stem head 25, and thereafter the stem head also moves downwards sothat the shank of the button stem is forced into the opening ll of thebutton head.

When the foot pedal 31 is released the spring 35 will return it to theinitial position and the parts of the device which have been moved fromtheir initial position, will return.

While I have illustrated and described the 2 preferred embodiment of myinvention, it is to A be understood that I do not limit myself to theprecise construction herein disclosed and the right is reserved to allchanges and modifications coming within the scope of the invention as 30defined in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by United States Letters Patent is:-

1. A button construction, comprising a button 35 head of non-resilientmaterial with an opening on its backside, and a stem with a shank forbeing forced into said opening and formed with a ridge and groove ofspiral shape forced into the opening for engaging the sides thereofunder 40 pressure to hold the stem in position, said shank comprising apair of shank sections adjacent each other, the contacting faces of saidshank sections being formed with grooves having lateral and transverseportions.

2. In a button construction, a stem consisting of an eye and a shank,said shank being axially split and having upon its outer periphery aridge and a groove-of spiral shape substantially in the form of athread, a button head of nonresilient 5o by the lateral compressionforces of said shank when pressed into said opening.

ABRAHAM H. FEUERSTEIN.

